Five Ukrainian students arrived on the ICU campus in May 2022, just shy of three months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Two of these students, Ivanna Tomchichenna and Viktoriia Koretska, completed the Master’s program in Public Policy and Social Research and received their degrees this spring, graduating from ICU. (You can read that article here)

In the following, Viktoriia, who has secured employment at a company in the Kansai region and is about to take her first steps as a working professional in Japan, reflects on her time at ICU.

When I arrived in Japan nearly two years ago, everything felt uncertain. I had left behind my home, my family, and a life that had been suddenly interrupted. Japan offered me not just safety, but a chance to begin again – this time as a graduate student, and as someone determined to turn hardship into something meaningful.

I didn’t know exactly what to expect from this chapter. I only knew that I wanted to grow – academically, emotionally, and as a person. Looking back now, I can honestly say that these two years have been transformative in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I first stepped onto campus.

University life here gave me more than just knowledge; it gave me space to rediscover my own voice. Through late-night research sessions, moments of self-doubt, and small victories that meant the world to me, I began to see myself differently – not just as someone trying to keep up, but as someone capable of contributing. My thesis, which explored how brands communicate their identity through advertising, became more than just a graduation requirement. It turned into a way for me to understand how meaning is created, how narratives shape perception, and how I could one day be part of shaping those narratives myself.

But some of my most memorable moments happened far away from the classroom. I found myself joining the tennis club, despite having zero experience and questionable coordination. Every practice was a small reminder that trying, failing, and laughing through it all could be just as valuable as academic success. I also had the opportunity to share a piece of my Ukrainian heritage during our university festival. Standing at our booth, explaining traditions, answering curious questions, and hearing “I didn’t know that” from strangers was deeply moving. In a world that can feel divided, these moments of connection meant everything.

Photo (Left) by Yu Goto

Living in Japan also gave me the quiet beauty of ordinary days – biking to my part-time job, learning how to use keigo properly, discovering how kind people can be even when you stumble through their language. I found comfort in the everyday rhythm of this life, and through it, began to feel not just like a guest, but like someone slowly building a home here.

And now, as I take my first steps into the world of marketing – the field I’ve dreamed of working in – I carry all of this with me. My hope is to keep learning, keep growing, and contribute not only to my workplace, but also to the society that has welcomed me during one of the most vulnerable times in my life. I want to be part of shaping stories that connect people, inspire change, and bring meaning. And I want to do so with humility, openness, and the same curiosity that brought me here in the first place.

Japan has taught me many things, but above all, it has taught me how strong and adaptable the human spirit can be. I’m no longer the person I was when I arrived – but I’m proud of who I’ve become, and even more excited about who I’m still becoming.